Collaborative Location-Based Search Results

ABSTRACT

Multiple mobile devices can be enabled to collaboratively search online information databases for results that may be interesting to all of them. Such search results can involve places of interest at which all of the search participants can conveniently meet due to the locations of those results being near to all of the search participants, for example.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to mobile devices, and inparticular to techniques for using mobile devices to obtain searchresults based on the locations of those mobile devices.

Computers and other electronic devices can communicate with each otherover networks such as local area networks, wide area networks, and theInternet. Mobile devices such as cell phones, including so-called smartphones, can communicate with each other wirelessly over a variety ofwireless networks including 3G and 4G networks. Such mobile devices alsocan communicate over the Internet with remote servers using protocolssuch as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocol (IP), andHypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

Mobile devices enable people (or “users”) to communicate with each otherfrom a variety of different locations. The portable nature of mobiledevices makes possible remote interactions between multiple people asthose people move from place to place. During any given remoteinteraction between a pair of people using mobile devices to communicatewith each other, those people can be located at places far away from theplaces at which they were located during previous interactions. Suchinteractions can be audio only, or text only, or can involve somecombination of motion video and audio—as in the case of Facetimeconversations conducted between two iPhones.

Although such remote interactions are a convenient means of keeping incontact with friends who are not in a person's immediate vicinity, attimes, people remotely communicating with each other using mobiledevices can sometimes desire to meet physically at some mutuallyagreeable location in order to engage in activities that are nottypically possible when those people are at significant distances fromeach other. For example, two friends might want to get together to sharedinner. Choosing a mutually agreeable location can be a more involvedprocess than might be initially suspected. When two friends areconducting a conversation using their mobile devices, they might eachneed to inform each other verbally—either through text or vocalcommunication—where the other one currently is. This process can becomemore complicated if the description of either friend's current locationis not immediately recognizable to the other, as is often the case wherethe listener has never been to the place that his friend is describing.

Even after the friends have obtained some notion of where the other islocated, neither of them might have the faintest notion of suitableestablishments to which both of them could travel within a reasonableamount of time. One or both of them might be unfamiliar with the area.If a dinner meeting is planned, then the friends might not know whichrestaurants are in the area.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments of the present invention can enable multiple mobiledevices to collaboratively search online information databases forresults that may be interesting to all of them. Such search results caninvolve places of interest at which all of the search participants canconveniently meet due to the locations of those results being near toall of the search participants, for example.

The following detailed description together with the accompanyingdrawings will provide a better understanding of the nature andadvantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an interaction inwhich a pair of mobile devices can engage in order to perform acooperative search for locations of interest, according to an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique fordetermining a particular location based on distances of multiplecomputing devices from that particular location, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forperforming a search based on geographical coordinates of multiplecomputing devices, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forperforming a search based on drivable routes between geographicalcoordinates of multiple computing devices, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique fordetermining, based on geographical coordinates of multiple computingdevices, which user of one of the multiple computing devices shouldvisit a particular location, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forpresenting information at a first computing device based on locationspreviously visited by a second computing device, according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a computing system 100 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Computing system 100 can be implemented as any ofvarious computing devices, including, e.g., a desktop or laptopcomputer, tablet computer, smart phone, personal data assistant (PDA),or any other type of computing device, not limited to any particularform factor. Computing system 100 can include processing unit(s) 105,storage subsystem 110, input devices 120, display 125, network interface135, and bus 140. Computing system 100 can be an iPhone or an iPad.

Processing unit(s) 105 can include a single processor, which can haveone or more cores, or multiple processors. In some embodiments,processing unit(s) 105 can include a general-purpose primary processoras well as one or more special-purpose co-processors such as graphicsprocessors, digital signal processors, or the like. In some embodiments,some or all processing units 105 can be implemented using customizedcircuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) orfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some embodiments, suchintegrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuititself. In other embodiments, processing unit(s) 105 can executeinstructions stored in storage subsystem 110.

Storage subsystem 110 can include various memory units such as a systemmemory, a read-only memory (ROM), and a permanent storage device. TheROM can store static data and instructions that are needed by processingunit(s) 105 and other modules of computing system 100. The permanentstorage device can be a read-and-write memory device. This permanentstorage device can be a non-volatile memory unit that storesinstructions and data even when computing system 100 is powered down.Some embodiments of the invention can use a mass-storage device (such asa magnetic or optical disk or flash memory) as a permanent storagedevice. Other embodiments can use a removable storage device (e.g., afloppy disk, a flash drive) as a permanent storage device. The systemmemory can be a read-and-write memory device or a volatileread-and-write memory, such as dynamic random access memory. The systemmemory can store some or all of the instructions and data that theprocessor needs at runtime.

Storage subsystem 110 can include any combination of computer readablestorage media including semiconductor memory chips of various types(DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, programmable read-only memory) and soon. Magnetic and/or optical disks can also be used. In some embodiments,storage subsystem 110 can include removable storage media that can bereadable and/or writeable; examples of such media include compact disc(CD), read-only digital versatile disc (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layerDVD-ROM), read-only and recordable Blu-Ray® disks, ultra density opticaldisks, flash memory cards (e.g., SD cards, mini-SD cards, micro-SDcards, etc.), magnetic “floppy” disks, and so on. The computer readablestorage media do not include carrier waves and transitory electronicsignals passing wirelessly or over wired connections.

In some embodiments, storage subsystem 110 can store one or moresoftware programs to be executed by processing unit(s) 105. “Software”refers generally to sequences of instructions that, when executed byprocessing unit(s) 105 cause computing system 100 to perform variousoperations, thus defining one or more specific machine implementationsthat execute and perform the operations of the software programs. Theinstructions can be stored as firmware residing in read-only memoryand/or applications stored in magnetic storage that can be read intomemory for processing by a processor. Software can be implemented as asingle program or a collection of separate programs or program modulesthat interact as desired. Programs and/or data can be stored innon-volatile storage and copied in whole or in part to volatile workingmemory during program execution. From storage subsystem 110, processingunit(s) 105 can retrieves program instructions to execute and data toprocess in order to execute various operations described herein.

A user interface can be provided by one or more user input devices 120,display device 125, and/or and one or more other user output devices(not shown). Input devices 120 can include any device via which a usercan provide signals to computing system 100; computing system 100 caninterpret the signals as indicative of particular user requests orinformation. In various embodiments, input devices 120 can include anyor all of a keyboard, touch pad, touch screen, mouse or other pointingdevice, scroll wheel, click wheel, dial, button, switch, keypad,microphone, and so on.

Display 125 can display images generated by computing system 100 and caninclude various image generation technologies, e.g., a cathode ray tube(CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED)including organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), projection system, orthe like, together with supporting electronics (e.g., digital-to-analogor analog-to-digital converters, signal processors, or the like). Someembodiments can include a device such as a touchscreen that function asboth input and output device. In some embodiments, other user outputdevices can be provided in addition to or instead of display 125.Examples include indicator lights, speakers, tactile “display” devices,printers, and so on.

In some embodiments, the user interface can provide a graphical userinterface, in which visible image elements in certain areas of display125 are defined as active elements or control elements that the user canselect using user input devices 120. For example, the user canmanipulate a user input device to position an on-screen cursor orpointer over the control element, then click a button to indicate theselection. Alternatively, the user can touch the control element (e.g.,with a finger or stylus) on a touchscreen device. In some embodiments,the user can speak one or more words associated with the control element(the word can be, e.g., a label on the element or a function associatedwith the element). In some embodiments, user gestures on atouch-sensitive device can be recognized and interpreted as inputcommands; these gestures can be but need not be associated with anyparticular array in display 125. Other user interfaces can also beimplemented.

Network interface 135 can provide voice and/or data communicationcapability for computing system 100. In some embodiments, networkinterface 135 can include radio frequency (RF) transceiver componentsfor accessing wireless voice and/or data networks (e.g., using cellulartelephone technology, advanced data network technology such as 3G, 4G orEDGE, WiFi (IEEE 802.11 family standards, or other mobile communicationtechnologies, or any combination thereof), GPS receiver components,and/or other components. In some embodiments, network interface 135 canprovide wired network connectivity (e.g., Ethernet) in addition to orinstead of a wireless interface. Network interface 135 can beimplemented using a combination of hardware (e.g., antennas,modulators/demodulators, encoders/decoders, and other analog and/ordigital signal processing circuits) and software components.

Bus 140 can include various system, peripheral, and chipset buses thatcommunicatively connect the numerous internal devices of computingsystem 100. For example, bus 140 can communicatively couple processingunit(s) 105 with storage subsystem 110. Bus 140 also connects to inputdevices 120 and display 125. Bus 140 also couples computing system 100to a network through network interface 135. In this manner, computingsystem 100 can be a part of a network of multiple computer systems(e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), anIntranet, or a network of networks, such as the Internet. Any or allcomponents of computing system 100 can be used in conjunction with theinvention.

A camera 145 also can be coupled to bus 140. Camera 145 can be mountedon a side of computing system 100 that is on the opposite side of themobile device as display 125. Camera 145 can be mounted on the “back” ofsuch computing system 100. Thus, camera 145 can face in the oppositedirection from display 125.

Some embodiments include electronic components, such as microprocessors,storage and memory that store computer program instructions in acomputer readable storage medium. Many of the features described in thisspecification can be implemented as processes that are specified as aset of program instructions encoded on a computer readable storagemedium. When these program instructions are executed by one or moreprocessing units, they cause the processing unit(s) to perform variousoperation indicated in the program instructions. Examples of programinstructions or computer code include machine code, such as is producedby a compiler, and files including higher-level code that are executedby a computer, an electronic component, or a microprocessor using aninterpreter.

Through suitable programming, processing unit(s) 105 can provide variousfunctionality for computing system 100. For example, processing unit(s)105 can execute a location-based collaborative search application. Insome embodiments, the location-based collaborative search application isa software-based process that can exchange geographical locationinformation over networks with other devices and use that geographicallocation information to locate search results that are proximate to allof the locations represented.

It will be appreciated that computing system 100 is illustrative andthat variations and modifications are possible. Computing system 100 canhave other capabilities not specifically described here (e.g., mobilephone, global positioning system (GPS), power management, one or morecameras, various connection ports for connecting external devices oraccessories, etc.). Further, while computing system 100 is describedwith reference to particular blocks, it is to be understood that theseblocks are defined for convenience of description and are not intendedto imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts. Further,the blocks need not correspond to physically distinct components. Blockscan be configured to perform various operations, e.g., by programming aprocessor or providing appropriate control circuitry, and various blocksmight or might not be reconfigurable depending on how the initialconfiguration is obtained. Embodiments of the present invention can berealized in a variety of apparatus including electronic devicesimplemented using any combination of circuitry and software.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a mobile device such as acell phone presents a user interface element which, when selected by themobile device's user, causes a cooperative search for a particular typeof establishment or geographical feature to be conducted concurrently atthat mobile device and at another mobile device. Under one scenario,user selection of the user interface element during a communicationsession being conducted between two mobile devices causes both of thosemobile devices to perform such a search in concert with the other. Inperforming the search, both mobile devices concurrently attempt tolocate an instance of the particular type of establishment orgeographical feature that is in the vicinity of both mobile devices. Forexample, given circular areas surrounding each mobile device, thoseareas having a specified radius, the mobile devices might search forinstances that lie within the intersection of those circular areas, sothat the users of each mobile device could potentially travel to thoseinstances within a reasonable amount of time.

In one embodiment of the invention, the user who causes his mobiledevice to initiate the cooperative search of the kind discussed abovecan also specify, through his mobile device, the type of establishmentor geographical feature for which the mobile devices should search. Forexample, the user might indicate, through a graphical orvoice-recognizing interface, that the user wants to find Mexicanrestaurants that are within the mutual vicinity of both mobile deviceusers. In one embodiment of the invention, the user who causes hismobile device to initiate the cooperative search of the kind discussedabove can also specify, through his mobile device, the maximum distancefrom either mobile device that acceptable qualifying search results arepermitted to be. In other words, the user can specify the maximum radiusof the device-surrounding circular areas in whose intersectionacceptable qualifying instances are to be found.

In one embodiment of the invention, in response to a user's selection ofthe user interface element discussed above, and in response to thedetermination of acceptable search results by each mobile deviceinvolved in the cooperative search, both mobile devices participating inthe cooperative search present, to their users, a list of the searchresults that satisfied the search criteria—such criteria potentiallyincluding the criterion that those results be located within a specifieddistance of each of the mobile devices.

In one embodiment of the invention, both mobile devices present the samelist, although details associated with the search results in each list,such as the distance of each result from a particular mobile device,and/or the order of the search results, can differ between devices. Inone embodiment of the invention, each list is sorted based on the sum ofthe distances of each search result from each mobile device presentingthe list, such that instances requiring the least amount of combinedtravel for both mobile device users are presented earlier in the listthan those requiring greater amounts of combined travel.

However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, each mobiledevice presents both (a) a list of search results that are within aspecified distance of that mobile device and (b) a separate list ofsearch results that are within a specified distance of the other mobiledevice participating in the cooperative search. For example, a firstlist can include the three criteria-matching instances that are closestto a first of the mobile devices, while a second list can include thethree criteria-matching instances that are closest to a second of themobile devices. It is possible that these lists might not contain thesame search results, although some overlap can occur if the mobiledevices are close enough in proximity and if the search radius issufficiently large. Even though each list might contain different andpotentially non-overlapping search results, in one embodiment of theinvention, the pair of lists that each mobile device presents to itsuser is the same. Although in one embodiment of the invention the searchresults selected for each list are based on the distance of that resultfrom a mobile device, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, thesearch results can be selected based on some other criterion, such asthe average prices of products sold at the establishments represented bythe search results.

Although in one embodiment user selection of a user interface elementcauses a cooperative search of the kind discussed above to be initiated,in alternative embodiments of the invention, other actions may causesuch a cooperative search to be initiated. For example, in oneembodiment of the invention, a mobile device user can interact vocallywith a voice-recognizing software agent executing on his mobile devicein order to cause his mobile device to initiate such a cooperativesearch.

Although in one embodiment of the invention a cooperative search isinitiated at a pair of mobile devices that are currently in acommunication session with each other, in an alternative embodiment ofthe invention, the mobile devices engaging in the cooperative search donot need to be participating in a communication session in order toinitiate the cooperative search. For example, in one embodiment of theinvention, a first mobile device user selects a second mobile deviceuser from a contact list stored on the first mobile device. In responseto this selection, the first mobile device causes the second mobiledevice to engage in a cooperative search with the first mobile device,even if the first and second mobile devices are not currently involvedin a communication session with each other.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an interaction inwhich a pair of mobile devices can engage in order to perform acooperative search for locations of interest, according to an embodimentof the invention. In step A, a user of mobile device 102 can select anidentity of a user of mobile device 104 from a contact list that isstored on mobile device 102. In step B, in response to the selection bythe user of mobile device 102, mobile device 102 can send a request tomobile device 104. The request can indicate to mobile device 104 thatmobile device 102 seeks to obtain the current location of mobile device104. In one embodiment of the invention, the request can pass throughone or more networks 106 and/or the Internet in traveling from mobiledevice 102 to mobile device 104. Networks 106 can include one or morewireless networks, which may include one or more cellular 3G networks orcellular 4G networks or one or more WiFi networks.

In one embodiment of the invention, both mobile device 102 and mobiledevice 104 can include global positioning systems (GPS) that permitthose mobile devices to determine their current geographicalcoordinates. In alternative embodiments of the invention, mobile devices102 and 104 can determine or approximate their geographical coordinatesusing other techniques, such as through cell phone tower signaltriangulation, or through Internet Protocol (IP) address informationassociated with WiFi access points with which the mobile devices arerespectively communicating. In one embodiment of the invention, therequest that mobile device 102 sends to mobile device 104 in step Bindicates the geographical coordinates of mobile device 102, asdetermined by mobile device 102.

In step C, mobile device 104 can receive the request from mobile device102, can determine its own geographical coordinates using any techniquepotentially including those discussed above, and can send a responseback to mobile device 102. The response can indicate the geographicalcoordinates of mobile device 104. Mobile device 104 can send theresponse back to mobile device 102 over networks 106.

In one embodiment of the invention, mobile device 104 can accesssecurity settings locally stored on mobile device 104 to ascertain thatmobile device 102 is authorized to receive the geographical coordinatesof mobile device 102 prior to sending the response; if mobile device 102is not so authorized (e.g., if the user of mobile device 102 is notidentified within a contact list of mobile device 104, or if mobiledevice 104 is configured to refuse all such requests for geographicalcoordinates), then mobile device 104 can ignore the request or return arefusal to mobile device 102.

In one embodiment of the invention, the request that mobile device 102sends to mobile device 104 in step B can indicate one or more criteriathat instances of establishments and/or geographical features need tosatisfy in order to be included within search results. In step D, mobiledevice 104 can initiate a search for such instances that satisfy theindicated criteria. In addition to other criteria, the search criteriacan include a criterion that the search results be within a specifieddistance of mobile device 104. In one embodiment of the invention, inaddition to other criteria, the search criteria also can include anadditional criterion that the search results also be within a specifieddistance of mobile device 102. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention,mobile device 104 can initiate a search for instances that satisfy thespecified criteria (e.g., establishment type, average product cost,etc.) and that are also within a specified distance of each of mobiledevices 102 and 104 (e.g., within a 5 mile radius of each). Inperforming this search, mobile device 104 can use its ownself-determined geographical coordinates and, in one embodiment, thegeographical coordinates that mobile device 102 indicated in the requestsent in step B.

In step E, mobile device 102 can receive the response that mobile device104 sent in step C, and, concurrently with step D, mobile device 102 canalso initiate a search for instances that satisfy the specifiedcriteria. In one embodiment of the invention, mobile device 102 cansearch for criteria-satisfying instances that are within a specifieddistance of mobile device 102, without regard to whether those instancesare within the specified distance of mobile device 104. However, in analternative embodiment, mobile device 102 can search instead forcriteria-satisfying instances that are within the specified distance ofboth mobile devices 102 and 104. In performing this search, mobiledevice 102 can use its own self-determined geographical coordinates and,in one embodiment, the geographical coordinates that mobile device 104indicated in the response sent in step C.

Beneficially, the foregoing technique avoids the need for the users ofeither of mobile devices 102 and 104 to communicate their locations toeach other manually, such as through vocal description over a voice callor through textual description within a text messaging session. Becausethe geographical coordinates determined by each of mobile devices 102and 104 are likely to be more precise than those that could be estimatedby the human users of mobile devices 102 and 104, the automatic exchangeof machine-determined geographical coordinates can help avoid confusionand frustration, and can save considerable time in the process ofdetermining a meeting place that is reasonably near to both users. Thus,notably, in certain embodiments of the invention, the users of mobiledevices 102 and 104 do not ever enter or otherwise specify theirgeographical locations manually.

In steps F and G, mobile devices 102 and 104 can respectively presentthe results of their searches to the users of those mobile devices. Asis discussed above, in one embodiment, the results can include a pair oflists: one list of instances that are within a specified distance ofmobile device 102, and one list of instances that are within a specifieddistance of mobile device 104. However, as is also discussed above, inan alternative embodiment, the results can include a list of instancesthat are each within a specified distance of both of mobile devices 102and 104; in such an alternative embodiment, mobile devices 102 and 104can attempt to determine criteria-satisfying instances that aregeographically intermediate between the devices. Mobile devices 102 and104 can present the search results to their respective users upon visualdisplays of those mobile devices and/or through other techniques such asaudible synthesized speech. Additionally or alternatively, mobiledevices 102 and 104 can automatically transmit the search results toother devices with which those devices are tethered or wirelesslycommunicating. For example, mobile devices 102 and 104 can automaticallytransmit the search results to vehicular navigation systems ofautomobiles in with their users are currently driving, for use by thosevehicular navigation systems.

Although embodiments of the invention discussed above refer to mobiledevices 102 and 104, in alternative embodiments of the invention,devices other than mobile devices can use the same or similar techniquesin order to exchange geographical coordinates automatically and toconduct cooperative searches for criteria-satisfying instances that arewithin mutual distances of those devices. For example, desktopcomputers, laptop computers, computing tablets, and/or digital musicplayers can use these techniques. Different types of devices can employthe foregoing techniques relative to each other; the devices do not needto be of the same type.

In certain embodiments discussed above, mobile devices 102 and 104determine and exchange their geographical coordinates due to requestsand responses exchanged between those devices, and potentially due to ahuman user's command to cause one of those mobile devices to initiatesuch an exchange. However, in an alternative embodiment of theinvention, mobile devices 102 and 104 (and potentially other devices notshown in FIG. 1) can periodically send determine and send theirgeographical coordinates over networks 106 to a server (not shown inFIG. 1). Mobile devices 102 and 104 (and potentially other devices notshown in FIG. 1) can periodically, or in response to a user's request,query such a server over networks 106 in order to obtain the lastself-reported geographical coordinates of some other device, withoutdirectly contacting that device itself. Mobile devices 102 and 104 alsocan cache the last obtained location of other devices. In an alternativeembodiment, such a server can perform the cooperative search discussedabove based on known locations of mobile devices 102 and 104, and canreturn the search results to mobile devices 102 and 104 over networks106.

Furthermore, although certain embodiments of the invention describe theforegoing technique with reference to just two mobile devices 102 and104, in alternative embodiments of the invention, more than two mobiledevices may automatically exchange self-determined geographicalcoordinates with each other and participate in a cooperative search forcriteria-satisfying instances using variants of the techniques discussedabove.

There are a multitude of potential specific applications in which theforegoing techniques can be employed. For example, mobile device 102 cansend, to mobile device 104, a request to visit a shopping establishment(e.g., a grocery store) having a specified name in order to purchase aspecified product en route from the current location of mobile device104 to the current location of mobile device 104. This might occur inthe context of one spouse calling the other spouse on the latterspouse's commute home from work, for example. Under such circumstances,mobile device 104 can use the automatically received geographicalcoordinates of mobile device 102, as well as the automaticallydetermined current geographical coordinates of mobile device 104, tofind an establishment that (a) has the specified name and (b) lieswithin a specified distance of both mobile device 102 and mobile device104. If the specified distance is restricted sufficiently, then thesearch results that mobile device 104 produces will only containinstances of the establishment that are located on some route in betweenthe current location of mobile device 104 and mobile device 102. Thus,the user of mobile device 104 can automatically be notified of instancesof the specified establishment that can be reached on his way home tothe user of mobile device 102.

In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the search is restrictednot by, or not only by, specified distance, but also or instead based onautomatically determined drivable routes from the current location ofmobile device 104 to the current location of mobile device 102; in suchan alternative embodiment, the search results can exclude instances thatdo not lie on such drivable routes or that do not lie within a specifieddistance of some point on such drivable routes.

In another potential application of the foregoing techniques, mobiledevices 102 and 104 can determine which of those mobile devices iscurrently closest to a specified geographical location at a specifiedtime. For example, mobile device 102 can initiate a process by which thecurrent geographical location of mobile device 104 is automaticallydetermined, and then mobile device 102 (and potentially mobile device104 also) can determine which of mobile devices 102 and 104 is currentlyclosest to some specified establishment (e.g., a dry cleaner) or othergeographical feature. In this manner, spouses might use their specifiedmobile devices in an automated fashion in order to determine which ofthem ought to pick up clothes from the dry cleaner at a specified time,for example. Each of mobile devices 102 and 104 may present, to itsuser, information indicating the current distance of each of thosemobile devices from the specified geographical location to be visited.Such a process may be initiated via a user's interaction with avoice-recognizing automated agent executing on either of the mobiledevices, for example, or automatically in response to the time-basedtriggering of a reminder in either of the mobile devices' storedreminder lists. Such a reminder can be a shared reminder that wascreated as such within both mobile devices 102 and 104 simultaneously inresponse to some earlier event. Under such circumstances, the time-basedtriggering of the shared reminder can cause both mobile devices 102 and104 to initiate the coordinate exchange and distance determinationdescribed above. Reminders can be triggered in response to events otherthan time-based events, also. For example, a reminder may beautomatically triggered at one or both of mobile devices 102 and 104 inresponse to one or the other entering or exiting a specified geo-fencedarea.

In another potential application of a variant of the foregoingtechniques, a former location of one of mobile devices 102 and 104 canbe used rather than a current location of that mobile device. In oneembodiment of the invention, as mobile device 102 travels from onelocation to another, mobile device 102 can automatically (or in responseto an express command by the user of mobile device 102) query mobiledevice 104 to determine whether mobile device 104 has ever been within aspecified distance of the current location of mobile device 102. In oneembodiment of the invention, mobile device 104 maintains a history ofgeographical locations that mobile device 104 has visited (e.g., in thepast year or even longer). For example, mobile device 104 can beconfigured to store geo-tagging information in conjunction with theperformance of certain operations such as photography. If so, thenmobile device 104 can maintain, within the memory of mobile device 104(or external to mobile device 104 on a cloud-based server, for example),a set of photographs that mobile device 104 tagged with its currentgeographical coordinates at the time that each of those photographs wastaken. In one embodiment of the invention, in response to a query of thekind discussed above, mobile device 104 returns, to mobile device 102through networks 106, a list of geographical coordinates that mobiledevice 104 has previously visited that are within a specified distanceof the current location of mobile device 102. In selecting thecoordinates to be returned in the response, mobile device 104 can usethe current geographical coordinates of mobile device 102 that mobiledevice 102 self-determined and indicated within the query.

Along with the selected geographical coordinates that are pertinent tothe current location of mobile device 102, mobile device 104 can alsosend information that is associated with those selected geographicalcoordinates. For example, if the geographical coordinates are those withwhich photographs are tagged, then mobile device 104 can also send thosephotographs (or thumbnails thereof) to mobile device 102 over networks106. Mobile device 102 can receive those photographs and present them tothe user of mobile device 102. In this manner, the user of mobile device102 can automatically benefit from the prior experience of the user ofmobile device 104 in visiting the same location, thereby potentiallyenhancing the opportunities for the former user's visit to thatlocation. For example, if the user of mobile device 104 has previouslyvisited some tourist attraction such as Hawaii, then the techniquesdiscussed above can be used to inform, automatically, the user of mobiledevice 102 of locations in Hawaii that might be of particular interestto the user of mobile device 102. In one embodiment of the invention,mobile device 102 presents, to its user, a map showing geographicalpoints corresponding to each of the selected coordinates received frommobile device 104.

In yet another potential application of a variant of the foregoingtechniques, a first mobile device can query a plurality of other mobiledevices in an attempt to determine which of those other mobile devicesis currently closest to the first mobile device. Such an application canbe especially useful in emergency situations, for example, when a userof the first mobile device is in need of urgent assistance, and wouldlike the closest of his friends or known contacts to assist him ifpossible. In one embodiment of the invention, in response to a commandfrom a user of mobile device 102 to mobile device 104, mobile device 102can send a request of the kind discussed above to multiple other mobiledevices concurrently. In a manner similar to that described above, eachof these other mobile devices can self-determine its current locationand can respond to mobile device 102 with a response indicating thatcurrent location. Mobile device 102 can receive multiple responses fromthe queried mobile devices, and, based on the current locations of eachof the responding mobile devices as well as its own self-determinedgeographical location, mobile device 102 can determine which of theresponding mobile devices is currently closest to mobile device 102. Inresponse to such a determination, mobile device 102 can present, to theuser of mobile device 102, information identifying the closest of theresponding mobile devices and/or a list of the responding mobile devicesand their current distances from mobile device 102 ordered by distancefrom mobile device 102.

In one embodiment of the invention, mobile device 102 can automaticallytransmit an emergency help request to the nearest of the respondingmobile devices, or to one of the responding mobile devices that the userof mobile device 102 selects from a list of the responding mobiledevices. The emergency help request can inform the recipient mobiledevice of the current location of mobile device 102. The recipientmobile device can present, to its user, information indicating anautomatically determined route to the current location of mobile devicefrom the location of the recipient mobile device, along with informationspecifying details about the urgent need of the user of mobile device102.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a variant of the abovetechnique can be used to determine which of a plurality of mobile deviceusers is currently the closest to some specified geographical feature orestablishment other than mobile device 102. For example, a variant ofthe foregoing technique may be used to determine which of a plurality ofmobile device users is currently located the closest to a specifiedstore from which party supplies need to be purchased. In such analternative embodiment, instead of querying the plurality of othermobile devices to determine which of those other mobile devices isclosest to mobile device 102, mobile device 102 can query the pluralityof other mobile devices to determine which of those other mobile devicesis closest to a geographical feature, establishment, or coordinatesexpressly specified by the user of mobile device 102.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique fordetermining a particular location based on distances of multiplecomputing devices from that particular location, according to anembodiment of the invention. In block 302, a first computing devicesends, to a second computing device, a request for a location of thesecond computing device. In an alternative embodiment, this request caninstead be sent to a server other than the second computing device. Inblock 304, in response to the request, the first computing devicereceives information indicating the location of the second computingdevice, which the second computing device determined using a globalpositioning system mechanism of the second computing device in responseto receiving the request. In block 306, based at least in part on both(a) a distance of the particular location from a location of the firstcomputing device and (b) a distance of the particular location from thelocation of the second computing device, a particular location isdetermined. In block 308, information identifying the particularlocation is displayed, on a display of the first computing device.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forperforming a search based on geographical coordinates of multiplecomputing devices, according to an embodiment of the invention. In block402, a first computing device automatically estimates first geographicalcoordinates of the first computing device based on (a) a globalpositioning system incorporated in the first computing device, (b)cellular telephone signals received by the first computing device, or(c) an Internet Protocol address of a WiFi access point with which thefirst computing device is communicating. In an embodiment, the firstcomputing device does not receive the first geographical coordinatesfrom any human user. In block 404, a first computing device sends firstgeographical coordinates of the first computing device toward a secondcomputing device in response to a user's selection of an identity of auser of the second computing device from a list of contacts maintainedby the first computing device. Alternatively, the first computing devicecan send first geographical coordinates of the first computing devicetoward the second computing device in response to the first computingdevice receiving specified user input while the first computing deviceis involved in a communication session with the second computing device.In block 406, the second computing device receives the firstgeographical coordinates from the first computing device. In block 408,the second computing device sends second geographical coordinates of thesecond computing device toward the first computing device automaticallyin response to receiving the first geographical coordinates. In block410, the first computing device initiates a search for establishmentssatisfying specified criteria that lie within a specified distance ofboth the first geographical coordinates and the second geographicalcoordinates in response to receiving the second geographicalcoordinates. In block 412, the second computing device initiates aparticular search based at least in part on both the first geographicalcoordinates and the second geographical coordinates in response toreceiving the first geographical coordinates. The particular search canbe for establishments satisfying the specified criteria that lie withinthe specified distance of both the first geographical coordinates andthe second geographical coordinates. In block 414, the first computingdevice presents a first list of locations satisfying specified criteriathat lie within a specified distance of the first geographicalcoordinates. In block 416, the first computing device presents a secondlist of locations satisfying the specified criteria that lie within thespecified distance of the second geographical coordinates. In block 418,the second computing device presents both the first list and the secondlist.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forperforming a search based on drivable routes between geographicalcoordinates of multiple computing devices, according to an embodiment ofthe invention. In block 502, a first computing device receives, from asecond computing device, a request indicating both (a) geographicalcoordinates of the second computing device and (b) one or more criteriaspecified by the second computing device. In an embodiment, the requestindicates geographical coordinates of the second computing device thatthe second computing device estimated based on at least one of: (a) aglobal positioning system incorporated in the second computing device,(b) cellular telephone signals received by the second computing device,or (c) an Internet Protocol address of a WiFi access point with whichthe second computing device is communicating. In block 504, in responseto receiving the request, the first computing device automaticallydetermines geographical coordinates of the first computing device usingonly a global positioning system of the first computing device, withoutreference to any human input regarding a location of the first computingdevice. In block 506, the first computing device automaticallydetermines one or more drivable routes from the coordinates of the firstcomputing device to the coordinates of the second computing device. Inblock 508, the first computing device automatically locates one or moreestablishments that are each within a specified distance of a pointoccurring along the one or more drivable routes and also satisfy the oneor more criteria. In block 510, in response to locating the one or moreestablishments, the first computing device presents information aboutthe one or more establishments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique fordetermining, based on geographical coordinates of multiple computingdevices, which user of one of the multiple computing devices shouldvisit a particular location, according to an embodiment of theinvention. In block 602, a first computing device receives, from asecond computing device, in response to a time-based triggering of areminder stored on the second computing device, a request indicatingboth (a) geographical coordinates of the second computing device and (b)geographical coordinates of a specified location. In block 604, inresponse to receiving the request, the first computing deviceautomatically determines geographical coordinates of the first computingdevice. In block 606, based at least in part on the geographicalcoordinates of the first and second computing devices, the firstcomputing device automatically determines (1) a first distance of thespecified location from the first computing device and (2) a seconddistance of the specified location from the second computing device. Inblock 608, the first computing device determines, based at least in parton the first and second distances, that the first computing device iscurrently closer to the specified location than the second computingdevice is. In block 610, in response to determining that the firstcomputing device is currently closer to the specified location than thesecond computing device is, the first computing device presents, to auser, information that indicates that the user should visit thespecified location. In block 612, in response to determining that thefirst computing device is currently closer to the specified locationthan the second computing device is, the first computing device sends,to the second computing device, information that indicates that a userof the first computing device should visit the specified location.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of technique forpresenting information at a first computing device based on locationspreviously visited by a second computing device, according to anembodiment of the invention. In block 702, a first computing deviceautomatically determines that the first computing device is currentlywithin a specified distance of at least one location that a secondcomputing device has previously visited. In block 704, in responsedetermining that the first computing device is currently within thespecified distance of the at least one location that the secondcomputing device has previously visited, the first computing deviceautomatically sends, to the second computing device, a request for a setof geographical coordinates. In block 706, the first computing devicereceives, from the second computing device, a set of geographicalcoordinates that represent locations that the second computing devicepreviously visited. In block 708, in response to receiving the set ofgeographical coordinates from the second computing device, the firstcomputing device presents information that indicates locationscorresponding to geographical coordinates in the set of geographicalcoordinates.

Embodiments of the present invention can be realized using anycombination of dedicated components and/or programmable processorsand/or other programmable devices. The various processes describedherein can be implemented on the same processor or different processorsin any combination. Where components are described as being configuredto perform certain operations, such configuration can be accomplished,e.g., by designing electronic circuits to perform the operation, byprogramming programmable electronic circuits (such as microprocessors)to perform the operation, or any combination thereof. Further, while theembodiments described above can make reference to specific hardware andsoftware components, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatdifferent combinations of hardware and/or software components can alsobe used and that particular operations described as being implemented inhardware might also be implemented in software or vice versa.

Computer programs incorporating various features of the presentinvention can be encoded and stored on various computer readable storagemedia; suitable media include magnetic disk or tape, optical storagemedia such as compact disk (CD) or DVD (digital versatile disk), flashmemory, and other non-transitory media. Computer readable media encodedwith the program code can be packaged with a compatible electronicdevice, or the program code can be provided separately from electronicdevices (e.g., via Internet download or as a separately packagedcomputer-readable storage medium).

Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended tocover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sending, from a firstcomputing device, a request for a location of a second computing device;receiving, at the first computing device, in response to the request,information indicating the location of the second computing device;determining a particular location based at least in part on both (a) adistance of the particular location from a location of the firstcomputing device and (b) a distance of the particular location from thelocation of the second computing device; and displaying, on a display ofthe first computing device, information identifying the particularlocation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sendingcomprises sending the request to the second computing device.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of sending comprises sending therequest to a server other than the second computing device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the information indicating the location ofthe second computing device comprises information that the secondcomputing device determined using a global positioning system mechanismof the second computing device in response to receiving the request. 5.A computer-readable memory storing instructions executable by one ormore processors to cause the one or more processors to perform at least:receiving, at a first computing device, from a second computing device,a request indicating both (a) geographical coordinates of the secondcomputing device and (b) one or more criteria specified by the secondcomputing device; in response to receiving the request, the firstcomputing device automatically determining geographical coordinates ofthe first computing device; in response to receiving the request, thefirst computing device automatically locating one or more establishmentsthat each (1) are within a specified distance of the geographicalcoordinates of the first computing device, (2) are also within aspecified distance of the geographical coordinates of the secondcomputing device, and (3) also satisfy the one or more criteria; and inresponse to locating the one or more establishments, the first computingdevice presenting information about the one or more establishments. 6.The computer-readable memory of claim 5, wherein the first computingdevice automatically locating the one or more establishments furthercomprises: the first computing device automatically determining one ormore drivable routes from the coordinates of the first computing deviceto the coordinates of the second computing device; and the firstcomputing device automatically locating one or more establishments thateach are within a specified distance of a point occurring along the oneor more drivable routes and also satisfy the one or more criteria. 7.The computer-readable memory of claim 5, wherein the first computingdevice automatically determining the geographical coordinates of thefirst computing device comprises the first computing deviceautomatically determining the geographical coordinates of the firstcomputing device using only a global positioning system of the firstcomputing device, without reference to any human input regarding alocation of the first computing device.
 8. The computer-readable memoryof claim 5, wherein the request indicates geographical coordinates ofthe second computing device that the second computing device estimatedbased on at least one of: (a) a global positioning system incorporatedin the second computing device, (b) cellular telephone signals receivedby the second computing device, or (c) an Internet Protocol address of aWiFi access point with which the second computing device iscommunicating.
 9. A computer-readable memory storing instructionsexecutable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processorsto perform at least: receiving, at a first computing device, from asecond computing device, a request indicating both (a) geographicalcoordinates of the second computing device and (b) geographicalcoordinates of a specified location; in response to receiving therequest, the first computing device automatically determininggeographical coordinates of the first computing device; based at leastin part on the geographical coordinates of the first and secondcomputing devices, the first computing device automatically determining(1) a first distance of the specified location from the first computingdevice and (2) a second distance of the specified location from thesecond computing device; and the first computing device presentinginformation generated based on the first and second distances.
 10. Thecomputer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause theprocessors to perform: determining, based at least in part on the firstand second distances, that the first computing device is currentlycloser to the specified location than the second computing device is;and in response to determining that the first computing device iscurrently closer to the specified location than the second computingdevice is, the first computing device presenting, to a user, informationthat indicates that the user should visit the specified location. 11.The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the instructions causethe processors to perform: determining, based at least in part on thefirst and second distances, that the second computing device iscurrently closer to the specified location than the first computingdevice is; and in response to determining that the second computingdevice is currently closer to the specified location than the secondcomputing device is, the first computing device presenting, to a user,information that indicates that a user of the second computing deviceshould visit the specified location.
 12. The computer-readable memory ofclaim 9, wherein the instructions cause the processors to perform:determining, based at least in part on the first and second distances,that the first computing device is currently closer to the specifiedlocation than the second computing device is; and in response todetermining that the first computing device is currently closer to thespecified location than the second computing device is, the firstcomputing device sending, to the second computing device, informationthat indicates that a user of the first computing device should visitthe specified location.
 13. The computer-readable memory of claim 9,wherein the instructions cause the processors to perform: determining,based at least in part on the first and second distances, that thesecond computing device is currently closer to the specified locationthan the first computing device is; and in response to determining thatthe second computing device is currently closer to the specifiedlocation than the second computing device is, the first computing devicesending, to the second computing device, information that indicates thata user of the second computing device should visit the specifiedlocation; wherein the request is sent to the first computing device fromthe second computing device in response to a time-based triggering of areminder stored on the second computing device.